Quiz Question of the Week

The classic Model J Duesenberg, with its long ornamental hood and top speed in excess of 125 miles per
hour, was a standard of excellence. Anything equally excellent was a real "duese".

One astronaut has inadvertently left something orbiting the Earth. Who was it and what did he/she leave behind? --Submitted by Chris Pavona [E-mail: f18man@hotmail.com]

One of Ed White's gloves came off during a
space walk and it is still orbiting the earth.

What is the origin of the statement "All roads lead to Rome"?

Because of the priority the Roman government placed on building wide, durable, all - weather roads, an army could be sent to a trouble spot in the farthest corner of the Empire and arrive there within six weeks.

Where did the term "Fuddy-Duddy" originate?

Usually used as a term to describe an old, fussy person. One theory is that when a clergyman had additional credentials, resulting in letters after his name such as "Ph.D., D.D.", he might have been called "Joseph Smith, fuddy duddy".

What did Al Pacino do 182 times in the movie "Scarface"?

Several people submitted coorect answers to this one. Pacino used the "F" word [rhymes with truck] 182 times. Some thought it was used more than that!

Where did modern day aromatherapy originate?

"Aromatherapy" is a term coined by French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé in the 1920's to describe the practice of using essential oils taken from plants, flowers, roots, seeds, etc., in healing.

What does "Mad as a Hatter" mean?

From David T. Dwyer II: A Hatter is a man that makes hats, hats are made from a wool blend called "felt", the felt is dyed to the desired color. The dyes of the hatters often contained hazardous chemicals such as lead and arsenic. A hatter would absorb these chemicals and over time go mad from using them.

From Ralph: In the 19th century, hatters often trembled with palsy and mixed up their speech. This was also a result of absorption of mercury, which was used in the treatment of felt.

From Howard Solomon: AROUND THE 16TH CENTURY IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, THE PEASANTS WOULD COOK IN THE KITCHEN IN A HUGE KETTLE THAT ALWAYS HUNG OVER THE FIREPLACE. EVERY DAY THEY LIT THE FIRE AND ADDED THINGS TO THE POT. THEY MOSTLY ATE VEGETABLES AND DIDN'T GET MUCH MEAT.. THE WOULD EAT THE STEW FOR DINNER , LEAVING LEFTOVERS IN THE POT TO GET COLD OVERNIGHT. THEY WOULD THEN START OVER THE NEXT DAY. SOMETIMES THE STEW HAD FOOD IN THE POT THAT HAD BEEN THERE FOR A MONTH. HENCE THE RHYME EVOLVED: PEAS PORRIDGE HOT, PEAS PORRIDGE COLD, PEAS PORRIDGE IN THE POT, NINE DAYS OLD.. PEAS PORRIDGE WAS ACTUALLY THE STEW DESCRIBED ABOVE.

Footnote from Ralph: "Pease" is an Old English variation of the word "Peas"

Where did the saying "cut through the red tape" originate?

Howard Solomon got it right again!--THE TERM "RED TAPE" ORIGINATED IN ENGLAND---WHERE FOR CENTURIES THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS FOLLOWED THE CUSTOM OF TYING UP OFFICIAL PAPERS WITH RED TAPE. THE EVERLASTING TYING AND UNTYING OF THE RED TAPE WHICH BOUND THE DISPATCH AND DOCUMENT CASES LED MEN TO PICK IT AS A SYMBOL OF USELESS DELAY. THEREFORE "TO CUT THRU THE RED TAPE" MEANS TO ELIMINATE
ANY DELAYS BY TYING AND UNTYING THE RED TAPE AND "GET ON WITH IT"
WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY!

Why is a boxing ring called a "ring" instead of a square?--Submitted by Howard Solomon

IN THE EARLY DAYS OF BOXING, BEFORE THERE WAS AN ACTUAL ENCLOSURE, THE BOXERS WERE SURROUNDED BY A CR OWD OF ON-LOOKERS, FORMING A CIRCULAR RING AROUND THEM. AS TIME WENT ON, THERE WAS A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE THAT ENCLOSED THE BOXERS. EVEN THO' THE ENCLOSURE WAS A SQUARE, THE TERM "RING" STUCK!
SOMETIMES IN WRESTING (PROFESSIONAL), AS WELL AS BOXING, IT IS ALSO
REFERRED TO AS "THE SQUARED CIRCLE".

What NINE letter English word contains only one vowel (All other letters are consonants)? --Submitted by Howard Solomon

From Steve Lucas: One of the answers to Howard's question: Which English word of nine letters has only one vowel? is RHYTHMICS, the study of rhythm. I suspect there are more, I seem to remember being told that there were three or four such words.

Howard Solomon Provided the following clarification, courtesy of The Riggs Institute-- Y has 3 vowel sounds, y as in myth, y as in by and y as in baby according to Merriam-Webster's 10th Collegiate Dictionary.

What are "The Whole Nine Yards?

From Howard Solomon: DURING WWII, THE WAR PLANES WERE OUTFITTED IN MOST CASES WITH .50 CALIBER MACHINE GUNS. THE AMMO BELT THAT FED THESE MACHING GUNS WAS EXACTLY 27 FEET LONG (NINE YARDS!!). WHEN A GUNNER USED UP HIS LOAD OF AMMO, HE HAD GONE THRU "THE WHOLE NINE YARDS".

What is the original meaning of "shoo-in"?

From Howard Solomon: I WOULD VENTURE A GUESS THAT "SHOO-IN" AS A DERIVATIVE OF "SHOO-AWAY", AS IN "SHOOING AWAY FLIES, GNATS, BEES, ETC. ONE WOULD WAVE ONE'S HAND OR NEWSPAPER, OR FAN, OR WHATEVER WAS AVAILABLE. TO GET RID OF THE PESTS. ON THE OTHER HAND TO ADMIT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE INTO YOUR HOME, CAR, YOUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, ETC., ONE WOULD WAVE ONE'S HAND, FAN, NEWSPAPER, OR WHATEVER ELSE, THEREBY "SHOOING THE PERSON(S) IN WITHOUT ANY QUESTIONS OR QUALMS ABOUT WHO OR WHAT THEY ARE.

From Ralph: It is derived from horse racing: corrupt jockeys conspire and agree to hold back their mounts and to "shoo in," or urge forward, a slow horse on which they have bet. The shoo-in is the only horse in the race that is trying to win.

What is the meaning of "to coin a phrase"?

A coin was originally a metal die (stamp) used for making money. The money itself later came to be called
coinage. To coin became a verb meaning to originate or to make.

What is the meaning of "Flotsam and Jetsam"?

After a wreck at sea, floating items are called FLOTSAM. Items thrown overboard to lighten a ship due to an emergency are called JETSAM.

What changed from red to black when one of its founders died?--Submitted by Corrinne Brooks

From Steve Lucas: This is, of course, the double R logo for Rolls Royce. If you want to continue the Rolls Royce theme you might ask a double question. Who designed the "Spirit of Ecstasy" Radiator Mascot and on whom was it modelled. The answers are Charles Sykes, and Eleanor Thornton, who was supposed to be the mistress of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu.

Who was William Henry Pratt?

From Kathy: Actor Boris Karloff was born William Henry Pratt in England